Chapter One

Claire’s POV

The studio smelled of clean rubber and cold air when I stepped inside.

I was early on purpose. The online booking confirmation still sat on my phone like a quiet dare I had issued to myself after the breakup proof that I was doing something decisive instead of lying on the couch replaying the same soft, polite ending of a relationship that had never once made my pulse jump. I wanted strength. I wanted the kind of physical exhaustion that left no room for overthinking. What I did not want was another trainer who smiled too much and asked how I was “feeling” every three minutes....